Going the extra mile
The awards are our chance to show our appreciation of the pro-active and hardworking students who do so much outside of, or in addition to, their studies. These are the people who go the extra mile to shape the future for themselves, the SU and the universities.
2020/21 Awards
This year we joined forced with the Student Opps team for joint Student Awards ceremony! You can find the full list of shortlisted nominees and winners over on their page. Below are the winners of the Student Voice categories.
We were so pleased to be able to present our winners with their trophies at an in-person event this year.
Innovation in Representation
This award is for a Rep who has introduced a new and different way of representing their course mates.
An innovative Rep may:
- Have responded to representation during the pandemic in an interesting and effective way; or
- Have developed a unique solution to a problem; or
- Implemented an exciting new idea to increase student engagement across their course.
Whatever they have done, they will have achieved it through using creative thinking, new ideas, or a fresh perspective.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Charlotte Cree & Lauryn Howard
- Lauren Taylor & Genevieve Midworth
- Law Reps & Chair
- Leela Channer
And the winner is...
Charlotte Cree & Lauryn Howard and Law Reps & Chair
"Because of the online nature of the course this year, a lot of our cohort were feeling very disconnected so we made 'Thinking Out Loud' drop in sessions as a fun way to get to know everyone a little better, including our lecturers! … it’s been a great way for us to collect feedback from the cohort informally while helping with people feeling disconnected."
"They began the year at a disadvantage as there was an internal image problem where students didn’t feel like reps were ‘on their side’ or there to support them. In response to this, the reps made a plan and have proactively changed the image of representation within their cohort for the better. They established an Instagram page to better connect with the cohort… They also began a recurring weekly social event every Thursday. The law course is new so all of this activity has built a very positive base for representation within Law and will increase engagement with representation."
Teamwork in Representation
Teamwork is at the heart of what student representation aims to achieve. Groups of Student Reps and staff members are eligible for this award, which aims to recognise the achievements that can be made by working together.
The winners of this award will have:
- Worked closely together on an issue and will have communicated constructively whilst sharing experience and knowledge to reach a common goal.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Becky Thomas & Georgi Roberts
- CGES SSLC Reps
- SOFT Course Reps
And the winner is...
CGES SSLC Reps
“They have done an excellent job this year communicating with our students to find out what their needs are, and have responded by delivering a suite of Community Events for each year group involving online quizzes, film nights, campus educational walks in small groups (foraging, history walks, dog therapy co-designed with our teaching staff) and surveys to help first years to meet each other and identify potential housemates for year two.”
SU Part-Time Officer of the Year
This award is for an SU Part-Time Officer who has shown commitment to democracy and increasing the voice of the student membership they represent.
The Officer will have:
- Been part of either the SU Student Council, the SU Green Committee, or the SU Liberation Committee
- Been dedicated to their Committee or the SU Council through being proactively engaged
- Ensured the student voice is heard by seeking out views of the students they represent
- Brought innovative ideas to the Council or Committee
- Worked with other Officers and students to campaign for a better student experience or to raise the profile of specific student group or community.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Gas Williams
- Jack Wilkins
- Maariyah Najeeb
And the winner is...
Maariyah Najeeb
“Marz has been amazing this year, representing not only PGT students but PGR students (even though she didn’t know much about this area before starting). She has spent LOTS of time in meetings representing the PG community, taken time to really understand what PGR students need, been an excellent chair of the PGR Executive (despite not being a PGR student herself), has supported the No Detriment Policy campaign, and has helped to develop understanding in the SU of how we can better support PG students.”
Falmouth Course Rep of the Year
This award recognises a Falmouth SU Representative who has contributed to academic improvements by working in partnership with the University and SU.
This should be evidenced through:
- Proactive attendance at university/SU meetings (SSLG/department forum/UGM etc)
- Innovative work to increase student engagement with academic representation activity
- Partnership work with their academic course staff, Department Rep/Subject Chair, or fellow Course Reps
- Effecting change that has a positive and tangible impact on the academic experience of their peers.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Ben Chalmers
- Eva Jiggins
- Jools Baker
- Maxine Denton
And the winner is...
Ben Chalmers
“The student rep who worked harder than anyone I have known to keep the cohort together through the lockdown, to communicate with tutors and students when the course was short of staff. It was thanks to him that students were kept happy and taken care of. Ben has put a lot of energy into gathering weekly feedback from the cohort, communicating with the course leader and the technical team to sort out issues right away, and his high resilient attitude became the delightful spirit that carried a lot of MA students on the course through the lockdown crisis. His positive attitude held the course together and felt like a blessing to the Course Leader too.”
Exeter Course Rep of the Year
This award recognises an Exeter SU Representative who has contributed to academic improvements by working in partnership with the University and SU.
This should be evidenced through:
- Proactive attendance at university/SU meetings (SSLCs/SCWG/UGM etc)
- Innovative work to increase student engagement with academic representation activity
- Partnership work with their academic course staff, Subject Chair, or fellow Course Reps
- Effecting change that has a positive and tangible impact on the academic experience of their peers.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Elizabeth Chandler
- Hannah Lightley
- Shannon Merkle
And the winner is...
Elizabeth Chandler
“[Elizabeth has created] innovative work to increase student engagement with academic representation activity, [acting as a] core member of [the] “bring the noise team”, working with academic staff to improve diversity of the readings, [and] effecting change that has a positive and tangible impact on the academic experience of their peers. [She has had a] tangible impact, providing resources and study groups organisers, study tips and also being an ear to listen to the problems students have had.”
Falmouth Department Rep of the Year
This award recognises a Department Rep (or pair of Department Reps) who has contributed to academic improvements by working in partnership with the University and SU. This should be evidenced through:
- Proactive attendance at university and SU meetings (SSLGs, Department Committee, Department Forums)
- Innovative work to increase engagement with academic representation activity at a departmental level
- Partnership work with Course Reps, SU President and Course Leaders, as well as Departmental Directors
- Effecting change that has a positive and tangible impact on the academic experience of their peers across the Department.
And the winner is...
Ellie Hartong & Gee Saunders
“These girls have worked together to ensure they have been in attendance at EVERY university and SU meeting. They have created group chats with their reps to ensure that they managed them well, meaning that that their increased engagement with academic representation activity at a departmental level was accurate. Their partnership work with Course Reps, SU President, and Course Leaders, as well as Departmental Directors, has been proactive throughout fighting for student justice this year. [They made sure] they had a voice at every meeting and ran a brilliantly organised petition, which gained mass engagement for student fee justice and access to facilities, that the SU President was able to use to lobby the government.”
Exeter Subject Chair of the Year
This award recognises a Subject Chair (or pair of Co-chairs) who has contributed to academic improvements by working in partnership with the University and SU.
This should be evidenced through:
- Proactive attendance at university/SU meetings (SSLC, Student Partnership Board, Subject Chair Working Group)
- Innovative work to increase student engagement with academic representation activity at a subject level
- Partnership work with their Course Reps, SU President and Education Officers, or Director of Education
- Effecting change that has a positive and tangible impact on the academic experience of their peers.
Shortlisted nominees:
- Adam Wrigley & Jinkai Chan
- Becky Thomas & Georgi Roberts
- Megan Kidner
- Shannon Merkle
And the winner is...
Shannon Merkle
“Shannon is an extremely impressive subject chair and has excelled in the role since day one. She is extremely calm and professional and does an outstanding job of chairing SSLC meetings. She is quick to respond to issue brought up by the MSc cohort, not only by bringing them to the attention of staff, but also in offering solutions. I feel very lucky that we have a subject chair as good us Shannon to help us navigate the uncertainties this year.”
Dedication to Student Voice
Do you know a Student Rep who is particularly dedicated to representing their fellow students?
The winner of this award will:
- Be highly committed to their role and to finding solutions to problems they raise
- Engage with relevant meetings and maintain contact with their peers, academic staff, and The Students' Union
- Go above and beyond their role and duties as a Rep
Shortlisted nominees:
- Emilia Dyer
- Hayley Davies
- Jack Wilkins
And the winner is...
Jack Wilkins
“Jack is incredibly committed to representing the student voice and improving student experience. He represents the student voice at every level of representation as well as in other projects such as his involvement with Surf Radio, Voices and as President of the History Society. As undergraduate education officer, Jack has worked closely with the President Exeter on a number of her projects, provided invaluable insight on student council and been a failsafe student representative for the Presidents to call on for meetings and working groups. Furthermore, he also represented the views of students on mitigation, attending several meetings to fight for protections for students, protecting students' grades throughout this difficult year. In addition to this, he has also ensured that the university committed to spending the money from strike action on students, helping to formulate the idea that graduation robes would be provided free of charge to all graduates this year.”
You can view the SU Awards 2021 Programme here.
Head to our Facebook page for more photos.
2019/20 winners
Falmouth Innovation in Representation
Sebastian Davis
Seb has been an amazing rep this year alongside a peer and has ensured that all student feedback is heard. One of Seb’s amazing achievements was the cross SoFT collaboration group he created called SOFT+, of which he is now Director. SOFT+ encourages the use of the facilities at Falmouth to the maximum; ensuring students get their ‘value for money’. To date, the group has begun regular meetings, and initiated a collaboration with MAYN Creative. Sebastian is new to SoFT and has encouraged both staff and students to open up and engage with more extra-curricular activities, which will make a difference in university and when each year group comes to graduate. Long may the scheme continue!
Exeter Innovation in Representation
Lizzie De Lusignan & Becky Thomas
Falmouth Dedication Award
Sophia Rodyakin
Sophia Rodyakin has taken on her duties as a rep with zeal and enthusiasm since day 1. Combining her roles as ambassador and student representative for the brand new BA Game Art course, Sophia has been Instrumental In evolving the degree to become something much more cohesive and synergised now than when she began as a student three years ago. Reps on a new course always have extra levels of responsibility, and Sophia has put up with constant requests from the staff team to try out new approaches, take the temperature of the students or tell us an initiative is bonkers. The excellent thing about Sophia as a rep is that she comes up with ideas or actively goes and sets up working groups to investigate issues which come out of student consultation. Running departmental forums, contributing to departmental committees and getting to grips with some really tough subjects, such as the Increasing mental health referral Incidence on campus and countering 'crunch culture'. She leaves a legacy of a BA Game Art course: it has a much stronger identity and fit within the community of the Games Academy, and she will be missed!
University of Exeter Dedication Award
Teamwork in Representation
Sophie Gray & Rebecca Hardess
Rebecca and Sophie have been, quite frankly, the best Department Chairs SoFT has ever had. Their commitment to improving our courses and the experience that students have on them, and in their time at Falmouth, is evident. As Department Chairs, they clearly form the link between courses, Departmental Committee and the Students' Union. They are always happy to take on committee actions themselves and see them through to resolution, taking all responsibilities of a committee member seriously and with ease. There has been a call for more course social activities within the department this year and both Chairs have been involved in effecting this change, often working on their own initiative. Their attendance at Departmental Committee and SSLGs is flawless - they've both even confirmed their attendance for the summer 2020 committee, after term has ended (and Rebecca will have finished her third year)! While they are both wonderful we have nominated them jointly because they truly act as a team - working together to get feedback at Department Chair Working Groups and making an effort to truly ensure that all SoFT courses, and year groups, are represented equally at Departmental Committee. Together they make a formidable team!
SU Executive Officer Award
SU Committee Member Award
Falmouth Course Rep of the Year
Grace Kelsey
As well as representing the students with enthusiasm, Grace has acted on behalf of the students beyond her role. For example, when the student body wanted more peer review sessions in the first semester, Grace found out free times, researched how to book rooms, and organised it all herself. This is all on top of outstanding performance and perfect attendance, and her attendance at just about all extracurricular events around the department.
Exeter Course Rep of the Year
Falmouth Department Chair of the Year
Occy Crowe
Octavia stepped up to the role with relatively late notice, embracing rhe role and being conscientious in her approach, reading through previous SSLG minutes and navigating a tricky first Departmental Forum, showing a clear ability to lead. She has established, alongside her peers, a positive culture of sharing allowing for successful feedback.
Exeter Subject Chair of the Year
Valentine Douady & John Brereton